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Ustwo · 08-22-2006, 09:33 PM

The teacher was grandstanding and either looking for hype or incredibly unaware of the implications.

I think what many people fail to realize is that the freedom of speech is not the same as the freedom to be heard.

Flag burning for whatever reason has become the 'symbol' of free speech to some, but symbolically its no different from bible burning, racist speech or anything else which would get a teacher dismissed with far less press fan fair and could have been used to emphasize the same point.

Had the same teacher distributed white supremacist literature, and then told his class 'oh no I'm not a racist, I wanted to prove a point about free speech', how many of you would believe him or think he shouldn't be terminated?

Now is this guy some anti-American? I'd have to guess no, he sounds just like the typical liberal educator who thought he was being edgy and clever, and was most likely totally ignorant to the fact that some people honestly feel that flag burning is disrespectful and not appropriate, even as an object lesson. He might even be one of those 'cool' teachers we all liked in highschool, but he made a mistake unless this sort of hype was a plan, in which case he is just a tool.

The teachers free speech rights have not been violated. He can burn all the flags he wants at home, wear one as a diaper, and blow his nose with one. If the school board, picked by the people of the district, do not want him teaching such a lesson in their school they have every right to fire him. I'm sure he will be able to land a nice job in some more 'progressive' school district where the parents don't mind if their teachers burn flags, and feel it is not a disrespectful act.

08-22-2006, 09:33 PM	#20 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	The teacher was grandstanding and either looking for hype or incredibly unaware of the implications. I think what many people fail to realize is that the freedom of speech is not the same as the freedom to be heard. Flag burning for whatever reason has become the 'symbol' of free speech to some, but symbolically its no different from bible burning, racist speech or anything else which would get a teacher dismissed with far less press fan fair and could have been used to emphasize the same point. Had the same teacher distributed white supremacist literature, and then told his class 'oh no I'm not a racist, I wanted to prove a point about free speech', how many of you would believe him or think he shouldn't be terminated? Now is this guy some anti-American? I'd have to guess no, he sounds just like the typical liberal educator who thought he was being edgy and clever, and was most likely totally ignorant to the fact that some people honestly feel that flag burning is disrespectful and not appropriate, even as an object lesson. He might even be one of those 'cool' teachers we all liked in highschool, but he made a mistake unless this sort of hype was a plan, in which case he is just a tool. The teachers free speech rights have not been violated. He can burn all the flags he wants at home, wear one as a diaper, and blow his nose with one. If the school board, picked by the people of the district, do not want him teaching such a lesson in their school they have every right to fire him. I'm sure he will be able to land a nice job in some more 'progressive' school district where the parents don't mind if their teachers burn flags, and feel it is not a disrespectful act. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.